Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Tel: 949-234-1300
Visit Website
National Register of Historic Places (1971). Mission San Juan Capistrano is famous for the return of the swallows on Saint Joseph's Day (March 19). The ruined old stone church was the largest mission structure built in California. The extant Serra Chapel is one of the oldest buildings in California, and the only one still standing where Fr. Serra is known to have perfomed Mass.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh mission, founded November1, 1776 by Fr. Serra. It was named for St. John of Capistran, a 14th-century Italian theologian. The stone church was built 1797-1806, but destroyed by the 1812 earthquake. The mission was secularized in 1833, sold in 1845, and returned to the Church in 1865.
Directions to the Mission
From I-5: Exit Ortega Highway and travel west. The mission is located on the corner of Ortega Highway and Camino Capistrano. Map
